The programme

For 36 years, La Pellegrina has organised summer courses for instrumentalists and singers in Czechia. This summer course has two aspects: chamber music and a joint programme for soloists, orchestra and choir. The summer school takes place in the conservatoire of České Budějovice, also known by its German name Budweis. This is a friendly town where the proximity to Austria is palpable. The conservatoire has recently undergone extensive renovation, with air conditioning in the concert hall. There are excellent grand pianos in the classrooms and fine facilities for making music. So anyone who always dreamt of studying at a conservatoire can still do so!

In the same building there is accommodation in the school hostel, with simple but clean single and double rooms, each with its own shower and toilet. In addition, there is a choice of hotels and apartments in various price ranges in the area. 

Chamber music & chamber choir

The mornings are devoted to small ensembles. Every participant will be assigned to two different ensembles, alternating per day. At least half of the time the ensembles receive intensive coaching by the tutors. At the end of the course each ensemble presents itself in an concert for the other participants.

Rob Klotz: If I have to have an addiction, going to La Pellegrina is my drug of choice

Instrumentalists take part in chamber music in all possible combinations of strings and winds, with or without piano. All formations from quartet upward are possible, with perhaps a few trios. Very advanced singers (see the description here) may also participate in this. It is also possible to form larger and more complex combinations, which are not easy to organize at home. Think of Schubert's octet, the nonets by Rota, Martinů and Spohr, and Dvořák's serenade for wind instruments. Ensembles will be formed well in advance, so you can prepare your parts thoroughly at home.

Yo van Dijk: "What I jumped into with some cold feet turned out to be a pleasant warm bath of enthusiastic musicians. For a moment you are in another world, a more beautiful one without worries"

Each morning the singers form a chamber choir and work on music, both a cappella and with piano. Some singers can form chamber music combinations with instruments. For instance, a soprano could do Schubert's Hirt auf dem Felsen or Spohr's Lieder for voice, clarinet and piano. A baritone could work on Barber's Dover Beach with a string quartet. A few more suggestions: Pergolesi's Stabat Mater with strings, Mozart and Haydn Lieder for several voices and piano, Schubert's Hochzeitsbraten or other works for several voices and piano, etc. There will be time for occasional musical get-togethers, so bring your favourite chamber music works along!

The course is open to individual participants as well as existing ensembles.

A special evening will be the Mozart Concerto Event, where everybody is invited to prepare a movement from a concerto or an aria by Mozart or a contemporary. The other instrumentalists and tutors are asked to accompany, sight-reading the orchestral parts.

Anke Muusse: “I really enjoyed my first musical Pellegrina week because of the level of the course, the variety of chamber music and tutti program, the guidance by good coaches and the wonderful music!”

Anke Wolffes: "The rehearsals were very pleasant. Dirkjan manages every year to be ambitious and motivating, yet relaxed in his way of working with us"

For whom

Choir

The course is open to 32 experienced chamber choir singers (SATB). The choir has a big and challenging role in Svatební košile. In addition, the choristers form a chamber choir every morning and work on music by Mendelssohn, Dvořák, Mozart and their Czech contemporaries. Mitchell Sandler will lead this choir in his inimitable way, combining helpful vocal instructions and excellent piano accompaniment with clear direction. Czech professional singers, in particular tenors and basses, will join the choir if the balance between the various voice groups needs it.

Marrie Kardol "Pellegrina has become one of my best and healthiest addictions!"

Yolande Krooshof: "I have persuaded three people to join the course, eerie, but they all have enjoyed it!"

Week programme and daily schedule

Week programme

• Thursday 30 July: arrival in České Budějovice, course opening with dinner at 18:00 h, first rehearsal for soloists, choir and orchestra in the evening
• Friday evening 31 July: tutors' chamber music concert
• Tuesday 4 August: 'free day'
• Wednesday evening 5 August Mozart Concerto Event: participants play solo in movements from Mozart concertos, a vue accompanied by the orchestra
• Friday afternoon and evening 7 August: participants' chamber music concerts
• Saturday 8 August: final, public concert of choir and orchestra at the cathedral
• Sunday morning 9 August: departure after breakfast

François Lanave: "I was the only French-speaking person at breakfast among musicians speaking a strange language with raspy 'g' sounds. But they immediately turned nicely into English, so that we could communicate"

Daily schedule

• 8:00 breakfast
• 9:30-12:30 Instrumentalists and singers rehearse chamber music in small ensembles and chamber choir
• 13:00 lunch
• 14:30 the orchestra first works in sectional rehearsals, later also in full ensemble; the choir works at first separately on Dvořák's Svatební košile. Later in the week, choir and orchestra rehearse together
• 17:30 drinks and dinner
• Evening off, plenty of time for playing more chamber music, and don’t forget that Czechia is famous for its beer...

Robert Beverly: "Pellegrina is a supportive and exhilarating musical experience for serious amateur musicians who are willing to work hard toward the goal of a polished public performance"

Where

Read more about České Budějovice, the place where the course will be held:

• České Budějovice, the town
• Travel options and initerary to České Budějovice

Casper van Dongen: “Beautiful music at Czech high level for amateurs in the conservatoire of a beautiful Bohemian city: an annual feast! La Pellegrina has been my annual 'therapy' for almost 20 years now... Where do you make music with such variety and where do you drink your beer in such a beautiful setting?”

With whom

The tutors of this course are passionate specialists in their musical fields: Martina Bernášková, Petr Bernášek, Pavel Hořější, Dirkjan Horringa, Libor Nováček, Mitchell Sandler, Rudolf Sternadel and Jitka Vlašánková.

How to register

In order to register, please fill out this form and pay a deposit of EUR 300 (which of course will be refunded in case you cannot be placed).

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